TOWN OF MOUNT GILEAD BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING MINUTES January 21, 2025 MG 110 West Allenton Street, Mount Gilead, North Carolina, 27306 The Mount Gilead Board of Commissioners will met on' Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at thel Mount Gilead Fire Department, 1061 East Allenton St, Mt Gilead, NC 27306, for the regular monthly business meeting. Present Mayor Sheldon P. Morley, Mayor Pro Tem Timl McAuley, Commissioner: Mary Lucas, Commissioner Vera Richardson, Interim Town Manager Michael Ferris, Police ChiefTalmadge! LeGrand, Public Works Director James Wahoo McCormick, and Town Clerk Lessie D.. Jackson. Conference called in Commissioner Paula Covington, ITEMI. ITEMI II. CALL TOORDER the Pledgeo ofAllegiance. CONSENT AGENDA A. Adoption of the Agenda B. Adoption ofI December C. Staff] Reports D. Mohawk Industrial Permit (Mayor Morley) Mayor Pro Tem Tim McAuley called the meeting to order at 7:001 p.. with a moment ofs silence and (Action) * Commissioner. Richardson made ar motion to adopt the consent agenda amendment to add the swearing in ofl Michael W. Sward, and aj presentation ofa certificate for Austen B. Morton. Commissioner Lucas seconded the motion. The motion carried. ITEM II. PUBLIC COMMENT Reading oft thel Rules for Public Comment (Town Manager Michael Ferris) * Patricia Laracuente-305 Stanback St.-Mrs. Laracuente came before the Board to speak on the violence in our community, and gang issues. Mrs. Laracuente just had a lott to say about issue thats she see within thet town. ITEM: IV. OLDI BUSINESS A. Proposed Social District Public Hearing (Public Hearing) Commission. Richardson made the motion to open up the floor for al hearing on the proposed social district. Mayor Pro Tem McAuley seconded. the motion. The motion carried. Suel Haithcock-100 Highland. Ave.-Came before the Board to stress her concerns Alane W. Brown-201 S. Wadesboro Blvd.-Camel before the Board to give reasons Patricia Laracuente-305 Stanback St.-Came before the Board to give reasons why she Aaron Byrd-303 E. Allenton St.-Spoke to the Board as to whyl hei isi in favor ofl having Mary Poplin-201 S. Main St. Spoke in favor oft the social district. Rebecca Neubauer-1101 N. Main St.-Spoke in favor oft thes social district. Michelle Haywood-409 Stanback St.-Spoke against social district. Darcia Alt-108 W.. Allenton St.-Spoke in favor of the social district. Jack. Jordan-117 E.. Allenton St-Spoke in favor oft the social district. Brittney-104 N. Main St.-Spoke in favor of the social district. ***Commissioner. Richardson. made a motion to close the public hearing and go back into the regular meeting. Mayor Pro Tem McAuley seconded. the motion. The about] having as social district. why shei is for the social district. believe we do not need a social district. asocial district. motion carried. B. Proposed Social District (Action) *The floor was open for the Board to have discussing. Each Board member gave their opinion on how they) feel the social district wouldi improve thej foot traffic in downtown, and one commissioner, gave the opinion of the citizens. ***Mayor Pro Tem] McAuley made ai motion to approve the proposed: social district ordinance. Commissioner Richardson seconded the motion. The motion carried. 3-Yes and 1-No. ITEMV. NEW BUSINESS A. Presentation from. Auditor had no questions for Mrs. Bennett. B. Offer tol Purchase Property Deneal Bennett ofJ.B. Watson & Company review the audit findings with the Board. The Board ***Commissioner. Richardson made ai motion to approve the audit report. Commissioner Interim Town Manager informed the Board of an offer made toj purchase property from thet town from Mr. Aaron Byrd. Mr. Byrd is offer toj purchase the parcel, which is currently undeveloped: and served with no sewer, but would require a sewer extension to serve the lot. He is offering the town $2,000: fort the lot. The location map is from the county GIS system andi indicates an assigned tax value of $8,640. After discussion with the Board, Commissioner Richardson made a motion to table the discussion until the Board Retreat. Commissioner Lucas seconded the motion. The Interim Town Manager Michael Ferris informed the Board ofa water leaki in thel Fire Department service linet that needs immediate attention. Mr. Ferris went over the two options with the Board. Afteri in depth discussion with the Board about thej project and the cost. Mayor Pro Tem McAuley made a motion to go with option #2 for the waterl line replacement. Commissioner Lucas seconded Covington seconded the: motion. The Motion Carried. (Action) motion carried. Discussion of Water Leak: at Fire Station the motion. The motion carried. D. Mt. Gilead Fire Department Annual Award Dinner ***Saturday. January 25, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Location: TilleryTraditions Club House-214Tradition Dr. ITEM VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS A. Community Garden garden. MANAGER REPORT Mary Poplin came before the Board to give an update on what is going on new at the community ITEM VIL. ITEM VIL. Interim Manager Michael Ferris thank thel Board for giving him the opportunity to: for the town an he updated the Board on the different projects employees oft the towni is working on. *Mayor Poplin gave his report on continued work with thel Montgomery County Partnership for Children. Hel has also joined a group call the C.O.R.E: Program, ways to get tourism intol Mt. Gilead. MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS REPORT Att the end he commit on some oft the discussion from tonight meeting. *Commissioner Covington request the dates for the retreat as soon as possible. *Mayor Pro Temi made ai motion to goi into closed session. Commissioner Lucas seconded the motion. *Mayor Pro Tem made a motion to come out of closed session and go backi into regular session. The motion carried. Commissioner. Richardson seconded the motion. The: motion carried. CLOSED SESSION pursuant tol NC GS 143-33c to discuss Personnel Commissioner Lucas made a 6WN,Ac ITEM IX. ITEMX. ADJOURNMENT The motion carried. the motion. OFFICIAL SEAL SOUNT ag Clerk -